Child Protection Specialist
United Nations Children's Fund
Total years of experience :16 years, 11 Months
- Provide ongoing Technical Advice and Support to the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) in the overall social welfare portfolio and ensure smooth communication between UNICEF and the Ministry. Between 2018 and 2020, I led the work with the Ministry on the finalization of its National Strategic Plan on Child Protection and Gender Based Violence. This plan constitutes the basis on which the Ministry is currently implementing child protection and GBV reform initiatives and has also been used to influence the work of other actors that support the Ministry, namely the work funded by the European Union.
- Lead the process of launching the reform process of the Alternative Care System for children deprived of adequate family care. Between 2018 and 2020, we were able to place alternative care reform high on the priority agenda of the Ministry of Social affairs. We were also able to unify the language around alternative care among service providers, develop different community-based care models that are currently being piloted in different regions of the country, development of tools and guidance in support of case management services for high risk children;
- Provide Technical Advice and Support to the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education launching and rolling out its Child Protection Policy. In 2018 and 2019, and through the partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry that I mainly led on, the Ministry was able to roll-out its policy in over 400 public schools. At the level of the central ministry's capacity to address violence within their schools, and for the major part due to the trust relationship that was built, I was able to advocate for the Ministry to start addressing some of the gaps and bottlenecks in the ministry's child protection internal and external referral system and pathways.
- Since I took on this role within UNICEF I have increasingly provided substantial contribution planning within the office. In 2019, I provided substantive contribution to the discussions that were held as part of the UNICEF Lebanon Mid-term Review, the shift towards Integrated Programming, and the new field structure which accompanied that new way of programming. I also led on processes related to Annual Work planning and Reviews with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
- I have also taken additional responsibilities in 2019 in terms of leading on donor proposal writing (in particular for DFID and EUTF) but also consolidation and quality control on most donor reports before submission to the Chief of Section for review. I have also been very closely involved in maintaining a positive relationship with main child protection donors of UNICEF in Lebanon.
- Provide substantial contribution to assessments, preparedness and response plans to emergencies and ensuring UNICEF child protection priorities are well reflected in sector plans and appeals.
- I have been increasingly supervising staff and consultants through provision of clear directions and objectives that are based on UNICEF Child Protection strategy and policy
- I have acted as office in charge for the Chief of Section a number of times during 2019 and 2020.
- Providing technical support for the effective implementation of national initiatives on Child Protection (CP) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) programming
- Provide substantive contribution in the planning for the new country programme for UNICEF for 2017-2020, and more specifically on the CP and GBV programme
- Managing Partnerships: design, implement, monitor, evaluate, and report on partnerships related to CP and GBV according to UNICEF strategy and priorities through results-based management
- Coordinate with the different sections at UNICEF in ensuring convergence in programming and provide technical support where adolescent and child protection issues are relevant
- Make professional contribution to reports (required for donors, management, annual reports, etc), as per reporting exigencies
- Provide substantive inputs to assessments and other technical documents developed by UNICEF or other partners (incl. UN Agencies, Ministries, etc).
- Provide technical support in the implementation of the Child Protection Component within the Palestinian programme in line with the Annual Workplan: monitor the implementation of interventions, oversee expenditure procedures, assist in budget preparation, budget revisions and budget control
- Provide substantive and technical contribution in putting in place a programme that aims at Strengthening Mental Health and Psycho-social Support in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings for Children affected by the Syrian Refugee Crisis, in coordination with UNRWA
- Provide substantial input in the preparation of the UNICEF Scale up plan for Education in Emergency Strategy for 2013-2014
- Coordinate with the Education, Child Protection and Health programmes at UNICEF for the implementation of the different projects and provide technical support where adolescent issues are relevant;
- Make professional contribution to the preparation of the relevant sections of reports (required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.) as per reporting exigencies as well as provide substantive inputs to assessments implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with other UN Agencies, Ministries, Partners (ex. Youth Assessment for Syrian and Lebanese Youth affected by Syrian Emergency, Citizenship Review Report, etc)
During phase I of the Development of the Strategy, I worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team, on the review and analysis of information relevant to the situation of youth in Iraq, based on which were developed the strategic goals, outcomes and outputs of the strategy as well as its monitoring and evaluation framework. The development of the strategy involved, in addition to an excellent understanding of all the issues affecting youth in general, a deep understanding of the legal, institutional and cultural environment affecting youth and youth issues in Iraq as well as the dynamics of the country.
I took on several roles during my assignment with UNICEF, working with the Youth Programme, the Palestinian Programme as well as the HIV/AIDS programme. My main responsibilities included:
- Ensure results-based planning and management in all initiatives
- Work closely with implementing partners to ensure quality programming and that implementation is in line with UNICEF's mandate as well as policies and procedures
- Maintain close collaboration with UNICEF counterparts and partners including Government Agencies and UN Agencies in setting national priorities and objectives for UNICEF
- Contribute to the major plans and reports submitted by UNICEF Lebanon Country Office during that period including but not restricted to: Annual Work Plan signed with the Ministry of Public Health, Rolling Workplan, Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, Annual Reports, Mid-term Strategic Plan Report, the Annual Workplan of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS as well as the Enterprise Risk Management Report
- Launch process of developing a Strategy on Palestinian Adolescents/Youth Development and Participation
- Participate in the preparation of, and making professional contribution to the Regional Situation Analysis on Adolescents lead by the Regional Office
- Provide substantial input in the preparation of the Country Programme Action Plan for 2010-2014
Main Tasks:
- Organize and coordinate the event in collaboration with MENAHRA Director
- Organize meetings with key persons including conference sub-committees
- Assist in fund mobilization for the conference with major donors
- Organize and follow-up on travel arrangements, accommodation for 200 participants from Lebanon and the MENA region and follow-up with Media Office and Logistics Company
- Coordinate speeches, program and topics and develop progress report and final report for the conference
Main Tasks:
- Participate in the organization of Advocacy activities (panels and workshops) aimed at raising awareness of policy makers on population issues and assist in the process leading to finalization of Advocacy strategy on population issues and contribute to the follow up on development and implementation of plans of action
- Provide substantive input in the production of IEC material (pamphlet, leaflets)
- Actively participate and contribute to the various phases of the development of a population databank including project proposal development, structure design in addition to organizing events, networking with other partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure success of the project
- Contribute to the preparation of draft reports pertaining to PDS project activities (Technical meetings, training workshops, conferences…) and follow up on day to day work pertaining to surveys and studies
- Contribute to the development of quarterly work plans for the PDS project and participate in drafting TORs for experts and national consultants recruited by the PDS project